This is a great hike for newbie hikers who want to summit a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. 700 feet (213 m) elevation gain. Finally, Trail Ridge Road, the main road the cuts across the park, is open from Memorial Day to mid-October. Begin at the Ute Crossing Trailhead, where the terrain is rocky and the flora and fauna of the tundra ecosystems are fragile. Another view from Forest Canyon Overlook. Emerald Lake Trail | Rocky Mountain National Park Hikes At 14,433 feet, Mount Elbert is the tallest 14er in Colorado and the highest peak in the entire Rocky Mountain Range. On our most recent visit we stayed in The Residences at #402 and it was wonderful. We wanted to do this, but it was incredibly windy and much colder above the treeline than in the parking lot. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK: For an overview of Rocky Mountain National Park and links to all of our RMNP articles, take a look at our Rocky MountainNational Park Travel Guide. Required fields are marked *. The parking lot at Bear Lake is large but it fills up fast! Elevation: 49 feet / 15 meters. There is no lodging inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Cross over to the outlet and boulder hop your way to the right side of the lake to find a private spot to sit and take it all in. Very nice list, Sky Pond is my favorite, as well as Black Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the highest national parks in the USA. WorldMark Estes Park. Meanwhile, Kara and I hiked Bear, Nymph, Dream, Emerald and Haiyaha Lakes. The elevation here is about 11,600, so take your time and stop to catch your breath when you need a break. Find the right trail for any skill level. The buses run from around 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for Bear Lake and Moraine Park but run from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. We live in Colorado Springs now and have visited the other 3 Colorado national parks very recently, but its time to get back to uncover more of Rocky Mountain NP! If you have any questions about how to spend one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, let us know in the comment section below. Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park is definitely one of the best day hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park - you can see three lakes in about two miles! On this hike, you get to see four very pretty alpine lakes (Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake) over a relatively short distance. Visit our. This is our favorite short, easy hike in the park. I will discuss these hikes in more detail below, or you can click over to our Best Hikes in RMNP post now to learn more (it will open in a new browser tab so you wont lose your spot here). If we plan on leaving Denver around 11 and traveling the Trail Ridge road would we only need the regular park pass? Hey Kaeshawn! Beginning at the Ranger Station, head onto the Bear Lake Trailhead and stay to the right, when at a half a mile, the trail turns off into a boulder field and passes through the aspen groves up to the Bierstadt Moraine. Distance: 1.7 miles Difficulty: Easy Length of Time: 1 to 1.5 hours Location: Glacier Gorge parking lot on Bear Lake Road. MORE GREAT HIKES IN THE NATIONAL PARKS: From hikes to the tallest peaks to beautiful coast trails, read our Guide to the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. Not too long after youve past Nymph, youll find yourself at the midway point between there and Dream Lake. If you plan to do a lot of hiking and drive Trail Ridge Road, plan on visiting Rocky Mountain National Park between Memorial Day and mid-October. Julie Last updated: February 23, 2023 United States 8 Comments. If you only have one day in Rocky Mountain National Park, what should you do? When you get to the end, take the trail all the way out to the farthest left end of the lake. Its an extra 0.8 miles to the shuttle stop on the dirt road. Ive always wanted to go hiking , Love the adventure just didnt have the friends or resourcefulness to survive out there. There are nearly 360 miles of hiking trails that range from very accessible to arduous and rewarding treks up to any number of incredible peaks within the park. This book was released on 2020-04-01 with total page 256 pages. The official National Park Service website lists when the permits become available and has more information about the permits. Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. For restaurant recommendations, check out our guide to Estes Park. This is a gorgeous drive. Looking for the best hiking trails in Estes Park? Tyler starts college later this year and UC at Boulder is #1 on his list. Bear Lake Trail Image by Wendy Harrison Lawrence via Alltrails Distance: 0.7-mile loop Elevation: 49 feet Difficulty Rating: Easy All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. You will also pass the trailhead for the Ute Trail to Tombstone Ridge. Its a very short hike (just over a half-mile round trip), but it will literally take your breath away. Get all of the details on how to do this hike in our post about Fern Lake. I love how you outlined which hikes to do, based on what you are looking for. I also purchased the National Geographic Rocky Mountain National Park hiking map. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. From the Glacier Gorge parking lot, is a mostly uphill walk to get to Alberta Falls, but it is not too strenuous. A well-graded trail circles around the lake. The Loch, Rocky Mountain National Park Hike to the Loch Selecting that perfect Rocky Mountain National Park must see day hike can be challenging! 1-Day Pass - Per Person - $15.00 Valid for date of purchase. Ida: Hands down this is the best hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Ida. This is our favorite short, easy hike in the park. Its a flat, beautiful easy walk in the parkliterally. We share off-the-beaten-path destinations, tips for strengthening your outdoor skill set, and our top picks for outdoor gear so you feel empowered on your next adventure. Alternatively, the best way to access the trailhead is by using the shuttle to avoid crowds and creating traffic. Web Visit website. This is a great hike for almost all ages and ability levels. Keep hiking until you reach Timberline Pass, at the two-mile mark. At this time, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are the main things to do in the park. Motorcycle - $30.00 Valid for seven consecutive days (including date of purchase). From here it takes an hour and a half to drive to Estes Park, the gateway into Rocky Mountain National Park. 1. To get to Sky Pond, you will rock scramble up a waterfall, which can be refreshing when the weather is warm and downright cold in chilly conditions. For those with an interest in historical sites, make sure you visit the Holzwarth Historical Site and learn more about the life of Colorado homesteaders. GREAT HIKES IN THE NATIONAL PARKS: From hikes to the tallest peaks to beautiful coast trails, read our Guide to the Best Day Hikes in the US National Parks. To get to the peak, its an almost constant uphill walk through an evergreen forest. This trailhead is located just north of Estes Park. The park encompasses over 400 square miles of Colorados Front Range, which juts up suddenly at the western edge of the Great Plains to create one ofthe most scenic and dramatic alpine areas in the country. Finish at Fern Lake Trailhead. Rocky Mountain National Park's 30 Best Hikes Explore an adventure playground full of 14ers, alpine lakes, and over 300 miles of trails. A water bottle is as essential as it gets. The amount of snow can vary year to year, so make sure you get updates on the National Park Service website before your visit. When you finally make it to Chasm Lake youll have a full-on view of Longs Peak, and a high alpine lake where you can rest your legs. For the entire hike, you are walking along the alpine tundra, with unobstructed views of Longs Peak, Forest Canyon, and the Continental Divide. On the way down, you can hand your backpack to a friend and then scoot your way down on your butt. During my trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, our goal was to hike as much as possible and to experience the amazing scenery and wildlife that this place has to offer. Explore one of 39 easy hiking trails in Estes Park or discover kid-friendly routes for your next family trip. If you continue beyond the Alpine Visitor Center on Trail Ridge Road, you can go all of the way to Grand Lake, if you like. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you want a quiet lunch spot, keep hiking around the lake to escape the crowds. Thanks for that feedback, Emily! The Residences are one, two, three, and four bedroom houses that come equipped with a full kitchen. How to Get There:From the eastern entrance of the park, take Highway 7 all the way in and turn left onto Longs Peak Road, from there its a short drive to the trailhead and an easily accessible parking lot. This is the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining. Make sure you bring extra layers, even during the summer months. Honestly, this is not the most exciting hike on the list. Spend several days in the park, hiking the other trails, to acclimate yourself to the higher elevation. CCY Route (Chapin-Chiqiuta-Ypsilon route) Bluebird Lake. Features a wide variety of hikes, from family-and wheelchair-friendly to challenging and strenuous options for hardier trekkers. It might be brief, but this short hike to Emerald Lake brings big rewards. Leave from Bear Lake. Once youve passed the Glacier Gorge Bridge on your right it is a series of steeper uphill climbs. Our website uses cookies. Cheers, Julie, We want an entry ticket to the park on Monday Sept 26 between 4-6. There are three ways to hike to Fern Lake. Wonderful post highlighting day hikes that are exemplary, and truly offer the opportunity to view nature in its stunning glory. From Bear Lake Road, turn left onto Highway 36 and continue on to Trail Ridge Road. Our favorite hikes are Sky Pond (super fun hike to a beautiful alpine lake), Mt. 2021Outdoor Project. Many hikes top out over 9,000 feet, with some reaching up to 13,000 and 14,000 feet. With numerous hotels and restaurants, and a great location near the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is a great place to stay. For the ultimate hiking experience in Rocky Mountain National Park, put Longs Peak on the top of your list. About a half of a mile past the falls, youll come to North Longs Peak Trail Junction. Trail Ridge Road will be closed, limiting your visit to Bear Lake and the eastern side of the park. Thanks Dave! This hike starts just under 12,000 feet of elevation and it is a stair climb to the top. Your blog is always my go-to, the most thorough, thoughtful content! I have been to RMNP in March when there was very little snow on the ground and I was able to go hiking without any special gear. Bear Lake. The Bear Lake Corridor is home to some of the best hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park and typically by 5 am parking is unavailable at any of the trailheads. You can still get around, but it might be on skis or snowshoes, rather than by vehicle. Youll get to pass by Alberta Falls (one of the most popular and beautiful waterfalls) or stop for a quick break and take in the views. Available and has more information about the permits a break super fun hike to Lake... 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